By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
THREE Chinese nationals were jailed after allegedly being implicated in a human trafficking scheme in the Berry Islands earlier this year.
Acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley charged Xiyang Gao, 32, Li Qiang, 24, and Feng Guo, 32, with human trafficking.
Gao alone faced a charge of trafficking in persons. All three men faced shared charges of conspiracy to engage in trafficking in persons, grievous harm and unlawful withholding of identification papers.
The trio were allegedly involved in the trafficking of Zhao Jinbo between March 1 and July 19 after the victim was found in Bird Cay in the Berry Islands. During this timeframe, the accused also allegedly withheld Jinbo’s Chinese passport and caused him serious injury.
Through the help of an interpreter, Magistrate Reckley informed the accused that their matter would be transferred to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).
Before being remanded at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, the trio were told of their right to apply for bail through the higher court.
Terrell Butler represented the accused.
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